Smooth Cu electrodeposition for Cu(In, Ga)Se2 thin-film solar cells: Dendritic clusters elimination by Ag buffer layer

Bing Li; Aimei Zhao; Dongmei Xiang; Zhuo Peng; Yujie Yuan; Yupeng Xing; Liyong Yao; Jinlian Bi; Wei Li

Energy Reports (Nov 2022)

Smooth Cu electrodeposition for Cu(In, Ga)Se2 thin-film solar cells: Dendritic clusters elimination by Ag buffer layer

Bing Li,
Aimei Zhao,
Dongmei Xiang,
Zhuo Peng,
Yujie Yuan,
Yupeng Xing,
Liyong Yao,
Jinlian Bi,
Wei Li

Affiliations

Bing Li: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Film Electronic and Communication Devices, School of Integrated Circuit Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, 300384, China
Aimei Zhao: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Film Electronic and Communication Devices, School of Integrated Circuit Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, 300384, China
Dongmei Xiang: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Film Electronic and Communication Devices, School of Integrated Circuit Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, 300384, China
Zhuo Peng: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Film Electronic and Communication Devices, School of Integrated Circuit Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, 300384, China
Yujie Yuan: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Film Electronic and Communication Devices, School of Integrated Circuit Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, 300384, China
Yupeng Xing: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Film Electronic and Communication Devices, School of Integrated Circuit Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, 300384, China
Liyong Yao: Tianjin Institute of Power Source, Tianjin 300384, China
Jinlian Bi: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Film Electronic and Communication Devices, School of Integrated Circuit Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, 300384, China; Corresponding authors.
Wei Li: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Film Electronic and Communication Devices, School of Integrated Circuit Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, 300384, China; Corresponding authors.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 8
pp. 1847 – 1852

Abstract

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Smooth and compact Cu(In, Ga)Se2 (CIGSe) thin film is critical to prepare high-quality solar cells. However, the ”dendritic” morphology of Cu tends to form on Mo leading to a nonuniform Cu distribution during the electrodeposition process, which affects the uniformity of CIGSe and device performance. In this work, Ag was used as the underlying buffer layer and Cu was electrodeposited on Ag film instead of Mo film. By adjusting deposition parameters, smooth and compact Ag layer was obtained on the Mo surface. With the Ag buffer layer, the ”dendritic” Cu on Mo was successfully eliminated. The electrodeposited Ag/Cu/In/Ga metal precursors were annealed in Se-containing atmosphere at 450 °C∼550 °C for 15min to prepare (Ag, Cu)(In, Ga)Se2 (ACIGSe) absorbers. Compared with the CIGSe absorber, the crystallinity of the ACIGSe absorber was improved. The VOC, JSC, FF and efficiency of ACIGSe solar cells were improved compared with CIGSe solar cells. Ultimately, an 11.73% efficiency of ACIGSe thin-film solar cells was obtained.

Published in Energy Reports

ISSN: 2352-4847 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Technology: Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy-reports/

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